Grading the Cowboys: Big trouble on defensive line

Tony Romo, right, enters his 10th season as starting quarterback of Jerry Jones' Cowboys and has a contract that runs through 2019, when he will be 39 years old.﻿

Photo: LM Otero, STF

Quarterback

Tony Romo has won only two playoff games, but he is clearly the franchise player in Dallas and one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Very simply put, when Romo is on the field, the Cowboys have a chance to beat anyone. When he is not, the Cowboys are not competitive. Grade: A-

Running back

Darren McFadden gained 1,089 yards, the second most of his eight-year career. But that was a drop-off from the 1,845 gained two years ago by DeMarco Murray. So the Cowboys not only signed free agent Alfred Morris, but also used the fourth pick in the draft to select Ezekiel Elliott, the top running back in the country. Grade: B

Wide receiver

Dez Bryant missed all off-season work in 2015 while negotiating a new contract and was also limited last season by a foot injury. He caught only 31 passes after 88, 93 and 92 receptions the previous three years. Bryant is now healthy and the Cowboys expect a great season from him. Terrance Williams starts opposite Bryant and still has too many drops. Slot receiver Cole Beasley is sure-handed and a regular third-down target. Grade: B+

2016 Lone Star Football Preview

Jason Witten is one of only 13 receivers to catch more than 1,000 passes and only one tight end – Tony Gonzalez – has more than Witten's 1,020. Witten will not catch Gonzalez, who had 1,325 receptions, but at age 34, Witten seems to have lost very little. He was targeted 104 times last season, more than any other Cowboy. Grade: B+

Offensive line

Clearly the strength of the Cowboys. It is anchored by three first-round picks – tackle Tyron Smith, guard Zach Martin and center Travis Frederick. La'el Collins started 11 games as a rookie and veteran Doug Free is a solid right tackle who has started 98 of his 108 games in Dallas. Two years ago, DeMarco Murray ran for 1,845 yards behind the offensive line (minus Collins). Last year in Philadelphia, Murray ran for 702 behind the Eagles offensive line. Grade: A+

Defensive line

Starters Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory will miss the first four games because of suspensions involving violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy. Lawrence led Dallas with eight sacks last season. The second leading sacker was Greg Hardy, who was not re-signed. Tyrone Crawford had five sacks and will be a steady influence the first four weeks, but the Cowboys are in trouble up front. Grade: C-

Linebacker

Middle linebacker Rolando McClain, who was suspended for the first four games last season, will miss the first 10 this season for the same violation as his suspended teammates. Sean Lee is more than capable filling in for McClain, but then the Cowboys lose Lee's presence on the outside. The Cowboys have been criticized for using their second round pick in the draft on Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith, who is unlikely to play this season because of nerve damage resulting from an injury to his left knee. So the draft provided no help. Third year vet Anthony Hitchens is solid but not spectacular. Grade: C

Secondary

After missing last season with a torn ACL, Orlando Scandrick returns to the starting lineup, which will immensely strengthen the defensive backfield. Morris Claiborne will start at the other corner and the Cowboys are hoping he will fulfill the potential that he showed when they drafted him with the sixth pick in the first round of the 2012 draft. Scandrick's return means Brandon Carr becomes a backup. The Cowboys believe 2015 No. 1 pick Byron Jones is on the way to stardom at free safety and Barry Church is solid at strong safety. Along with Carr, J.J. Wilcox and Jeff Heath give the Cowboys excellent depth in the defensive backfield. Grade: B+

Kicker

Dan Bailey has made 144 of 159 field goals since joining the Cowboys in 2011. He is the all-time leader in NFL history in field goal accuracy, making 90.6 percent of his kicks. From 39 yards or less, he has missed only three of the 81 field goals he has attempted. Grade: A+

Punter

Chris Jones has been the regular punter for three years and last season was his best. He averaged 45.2 yards a kick, which is slightly better than his career 45.0 average. But he finished third in the NFL in net yards, which is punting yardage minus returns, at 42.5. And he was effective at placing the ball. He had only one kick all year that went for a touchback. Grade: A

Returns

The Cowboys were concerned when returner Dwayne Harris signed with the Giants before last season, but Lucky Whitehead from Florida Atlantic University did a nice job in his rookie season. He actually averaged more yards on kickoff returns (28.5 to Harris 24.7 in 2014), but he wasn't quite as successful on punt returns. Harris had averaged 9.2 while Whitehead was 5.8. Grade: B

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